Sunday, November 1st, 2009
MANSION HILL INN
BY SAM POLCER
PHOTOGRAPHS BY JAMIE L. FORREST
THE MANSION HILL INN (800-798-9070; www.mansionhillinn.com), one of four historic mansions still standing at the intersection of North Pinckney and East Gilman on the ridge along Lake Mendota, was the first residence on “Big Bug Hill,” Victorian Madison’s most elegant neighborhood (now known as Mansion Hill). Built in 1857 by Alexander McDonnell, who was constructing the second state Capitol at the same time, the German Romanesque Revival-style mansion is considered by some to be the finest of its type in the U.S. At the turn of the century, it became a boarding house, then apartments, and ultimately a boutique hotel in 1983.
The mansion was bought in March of 2008 by Trek Bicycles and Trek Hospitality, underwent extensive renovations, and reopened last May. Artisans preserved and restored many of the sandstone building’s features— like the ornate wrought iron on the balconies and the belvedere at the top of the four-story spiral staircase—while rooms were updated with amenities like rainfall showers.
Each of the 10 guest rooms has a distinct feel, giving the grand building an intimate quality. Adjacent to the classic parlor is a small bar with local microbrews on tap that also serves as the concierge desk. The staff is gracious and accommodating, but not intrusive. In true Trek fashion, a rack of new bicycles by the side entrance is there for guests to use; both Madison’s Capitol Square and the bustling University of Wisconsin-Madison campus are nearby, and a leisurely ride along the lakefront is a great way to spend a few hours.
You might not think there’s room for this kind of Old World charm and luxury in a vibrant college town (the inn’s proximity to campus makes it the perfect place for parents of students to combine a visit with a vacation, by the way), but upon descending the spiral staircase, observing the sunlight passing through etched Venetian glass windows into the marble foyer below, you’ll definitely agree that the Mansion Hill Inn has enough historic elegance to prove otherwise.
